New Lithium-ion Battery Reportedly Ideal for Electric Cars

The battery is based on a high-capacity nanostructured tin-carbon anode and a high-voltage lithium-ion cathode.

Feb 23, 2011

Scientists are reporting development of an advanced lithium-ion battery that is ideal for powering the electric vehicles now making their way into dealer showrooms. The new battery can store large amounts of energy in a small space and has a high rate capacity, meaning it can provide current even in extreme temperatures. The report, “An Advanced Lithium Ion Battery Based on High Performance Electrode Materials” appears in Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Bruno Scrosati, Ph.D., at the University of Rome Sapienza; Yang-Kook Sun, and colleagues point out that consumers have a great desire for electric vehicles, given the shortage and expense of petroleum. But a typical hybrid car can only go short distances on electricity alone and holds less charge in very hot or very cold temperatures. With the government push to have one million electric cars on U.S. roads by 2015, the pressure to solve these problems is high. To make electric vehicles a more realistic alternative to gas-powered automobiles, the researchers realized that an improved battery was needed.

The scientists developed a high-capacity nanostructured tin-carbon anode, or positive electrode, and a high-voltage lithium-ion cathode, the negative electrode. When the two parts are put together, the result is a high-performance battery with a high energy density and rate capacity. “On the basis of the performance demonstrated here, this battery is a top candidate for powering sustainable vehicles,” the researchers say.

The authors acknowledge funding from the World Class University program through the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation.